Collection

by Marianne Sciucco

Daisy and her family accompany their hardworking father on a trip to collect his wages from a slow-paying customer, and encounter surprising consequences. A poignant coming of age story that captures the fallout in a collision of classes. Winner of Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest 2007, Honorable Mention

15 pages, ebook

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

I’m not a nurse who writes but a writer who happens to be a nurse. A lover of words and books, I dreamed of becoming an author when I grew up but became a nurse to avoid poverty. I later brought my two passions together and write about the intricate lives of people struggling with health and family issues. My stories are considered “clean,” meaning free of overt sexuality, graphic violence, and offensive language.

Everything I know about publishing I went out and learned on my own by reading books and blogs, joining writers’ groups, and attending writers’ conferences. How I wish I’d had someone to take me by the hand and show me the way. This led me to share my knowledge via my blog and my Facebook and Twitter accounts. And, when we're not in a pandemic, I teach classes at three colleges.

My debut novel "Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story" is a Kindle bestseller, IndieReader Approved, a 5-star Reader's Favorite, a Library Journal Self-e Selection, and a BookWorks featured book. It’s available in digital, paperback, and audiobook on Amazon. A prequel to the novel, "Christmas at Blue Hydrangeas," was released on Kindle, paperback, and audio. In 2019 it was a Solo Medalist Winner in New Apple Literary's Summer E-Book Awards in SHORT STORY.

My Young Adult novel "Swim Season" is the fast-paced drama driven story of Olympic hopeful Aerin Keane, starting senior year in her third high school and trying NOT to win. But can she hide her natural talent and competitive streak? Especially with a 50,000-dollar scholarship on the line? "Swim Season" was an Official Selection in the 2017 New Apple Book Awards: Young Adult General Fiction, and is a 5-star Readers’ Favorite and a BookWorks Featured Book of the Week. Available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook on Amazon.

I’ve published three short stories in Kindle and audio: "Ino’s Love," the award winning "Collection," Daisy Hunter Story No. 1, and "Birthday Party," Daisy Hunter Story No. 2.

My writing and publishing career has led me to become a founding member of AlzAuthors, the global community of authors writing about the dementias. Our goal is to raise awareness of these diseases and to spotlight carefully vetted books and blogs recommended for caregivers and others looking for knowledge and support. Each week we feature a new author/blogger on our blog and I host a podcast featuring one of our authors. Visit alzauthors.com.

A native Bostonian, I live in New York’s Hudson Valley, and when not writing work as a campus nurse at a community college. I love books, the beach, and craft beer, and especially enjoy the three of them together.

Reviews

[Angie Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I'm a little confused. I'm not sure what the point of this story was supposed to be. I think if this had been part of a memoir, it would have been different, but as a short story it just left me...uncertain. With the way everything happened, I didn't even feel like cheering at the eventual victory, such as it was. The setting was very well-done, and the family felt incredibly real, but the story just didn't do it for me.

Content--name-calling; mention of a naked Barbie doll

[Jessyca Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection: A Daisy Hunter Story by Marianne Sciucco may be a short story but it is one that stays with you long after you have finished reading it. In fact you will want to reread the story again just to make sure that you did not miss anything. Young Daisy Hunter accompanies her whole family in attempting to collect her father’s pay for painting an entire house. The simple task of collecting money turns out to be more difficult than anyone expected.

Marianne Sciucco paints a beautiful picture with her words in Collection. From the very first paragraph it was as if I was no longer reading the story, but actually sitting in the car with the Hunter family. This story reminded me of the ones my father would tell me about growing up poor. I identified with Daisy Hunter in being the girl that was always picked on or talked about in school because she was not dressed as good as the other kids. The mother, Meg Hunter, is a hero in my eyes. She is the glue of the Hunter family. I do not want to give away the story but I wonder if the mother told Sadie to do it.

I loved Collection. I was sad when I finished the story because I wanted more. I want to read more tales about Daisy and her family’s lives. What happened in this story happens far too often in the world. I recommend everyone to read this story and then just stop and actually think about it.
*I reviewed this book for Reader's Favorite

[Caffee K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Ino’s Love, I knew I would enjoy this one, and indeed I did. The only thing that comes to mind that I didn’t like was that it’s too short. The story itself is self-contained in the coves, but there are questions which I’d love to see answers to. (Perhaps, since this is listed as book 1, there are more to come?)

The world building is handled with care, and provides such exquisite detail that as a reader, you are taken back to the 1960’s and dropped off for the duration. The sights, sounds, and almost even the smells come to life as you read through this tale.

The characters are seen primarily through the eyes of the eldest child, yet they all have a depth and complexity I don’t usually find in short stories with the complexity of world building Marianne managed to do. The process is handled hand-in-hand with the world building, and I think, is part of why the story is so captivating.

The pacing is handled just as well – a perfect feel for the era, and it builds the tension between the family and the client to a tingly peak. When everything resolves, it’s like hearing the rain start after waiting through the still air and heavy feeling of the storm building. You know it’s coming, the question is left to when it will break.

Overall, this is a wonderful story. I’d love to give it the well deserved five out of five, but the format doesn’t do it justice in my opinion, so I’ll go with a four out of five stars. Where’s the next installment?

[Saarah Niña · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ended too soon.
This story is told in a true storytelling fashion, very anecdotal. It is narrated by Evelyn Eibhlin and the story is told from the perspective of a young lady, who suffers a mortifying experience involving her poverty stricken family. Whilst I could not relate to their dire financial situation, I certainly am no stranger to social embarrassment: from those visits to the doctor's clinic, where we would all crowd into a small room with not enough chairs....All the way down to those parents' evenings, when my mother would bring me and my older siblings in, for good measure, and we'd all be forced to squeeze ourselves into a child's chair. Not an easy feat. There were times when I'd have stood, had it not been for the implications that I was intimidating a teacher. That, and I can't stand for too long. This story allowed me to reminisce about my past, only good stories inspire me to think of those good, carefree times.

Also, the narrator's voice was very fitting: the right blend of hopeful and regretful. A weird mix, but enough to keep it light and interesting.

NB: I received this audiobook via Audiobook Blast.

[Teressa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the Audible audio version of this story.

"A Wonderful Short Story by Talented Author"

COLLECTION was a neat little short story. I liked the perspective of the oldest of five children. The irony of the story was great. The mother goes to the woman's house to collect payment for her husband's work and the children go in to use the restroom. It turns out that Daisy, the oldest goes to school with the woman's daughter, who's sort of a bully.

With this being book 1, I hope MARIANNE SCIUCCO is going to make this into a series. I think it would be great. That or a collection of short stories.

EVELYN EIBHLIN's narration was fantastic. Her voice fit this story perfectly. Her performance was flawless.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. To me I feel like the lady that owe the family was lying because she didn't want to pay them. It sucks that the girl bullies the other girl. And call her names because of the clothes she wears. Not everyone has money to afford Current clothes. The lady and her daughter act all stuck up judging that family. Its ashame that its still people out here that's like that. Only reason she paid them was because of their daughter from the doll. And its interesting that this book was a based on true story.

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is told from the perspective of the oldest child. At under 30 minutes, it's not long enough to say much. It barely gets started describing the
characters and there's absolutely no plot or point to the story whatsoever. Its only redeeming quality is the outstanding performance of Evelyn Eibhlin.
Her youthful voice is perfect as the narrator. I just wish there was more to the story.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this audio story in exchange for this unbiased review.

[Susie Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story brought back memories of the way children are treated at school, and most of the time their behavior stems from what goes on at home. This still happens today. Story and narration were both very good. I look forward to another Daisy Hunter story.

I was given this audio book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author understands. She seems to reach down to find my life in her words. Well done. There is so much insight to be found on the pages. Ms. Sciucco has a wonderful voice that fit the characters very well.

I recommend this book.